Plastic disposable safety razor having separable parts releasably secured together



Sept. 27, 1966 1.. w. SACHS 3,274,683

PLASTIC DISPOSABLE SAFETY RAZOR HAVING SEPARABLE PARTS RELEASABLY SECURED TOGETHER Filed Oct. 26, 1964 INVENTOR LEONARD W. SACH S ATTOQNEVS United States Patent 3,274,683 PLASTIC DISPOSABLE SAFETY RAZOR HAVING SEPARABLE PARTS RELEASABLY SECURED TO- This application .is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 293,056, filed July 5, 1963, and the invention relates generally to razors and refers more particularly to a plastic disposable safety razor.

It is an essential object of this invention to provide a razor which is inexpensive and therefore may be thrown away after being used one or two times.

Another object is to provide a razor composed of a head, guard, and a blade interposed between the head and guard, the three parts being secured together in an assembly.

Another object is to provide a razor in which the head and guard are formed of an inexpensive easily molded material such as plastic.

Another object is to provide a disposable safety razor having an integral part, preferably in the form of a pin shaped member, extending from the plastic head and engaging the guard.

Another object is to provide a plastic disposable safety razor in which at least one, and preferably two integral pins extend from the head through clearances in the blade and in the guard, the pin or pins have outer ends which are larger than the clearances in the guard to engage the underside of the guard and lock the assembled head, blade and guard together.

Another object is to provide a plastic disposable safety razor in which the outer ends of the pins are initially enlarged so as to have a tight or press fit with the holes in the guard during assembly and on final assembly to be disposed in partially overlying relation to the remote side of the guard to hold the parts together yet to permit them to be disassembled. The parts will, on final assembly, snap together and be releasably held in that condition by the enlarged heads.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a safety razor constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the razor in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the parts in FIG- URE 2, omitting the blade.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing the pin contour.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the guard.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the razor blade on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the razor is generally designated 10 and is composed of a head 12, blade 14, guard 16 and handle 18.

The head 12 is in the form of a relatively thin elongated member which is straight in longitudinal section, as will be apparent in FIGURES 2 and 3, but downwardly curved or arched transversely as shown in FIGURE 1. The head 12 has .integral pins projecting downwardly from the concave undersurface thereof. The pins are spaced apart longitudinally of the head. The pins are located equal distances from the ends of the head and are disposed on the longitudinal center line of the head which "ice is midway between the opposite side edges thereof, as will be apparent in FIGURES 2 and 3. The head 12 also has integral lugs 70 disposed in spaced relation on the longitudinal center line of the head between pins 20. The lugs project downwardly from the concave undersurf-ace of the head.

The blade 14 may be an ordinary double-edged flexible metal blade having the two shaving edges 22 and 24. The outline of the razor blade is similar to the outline of the head 12, as will be appreciated by a comparison of FIGURES 1 and 2. Thus the razor bade is of thin stock and relatively long and its side and end edges will be seen to project slightly beyond the corresponding edges of the head when the parts of the razor are assembled. The blade may be similar to the type which is sold separately for use and replacement in the conventional safety razor, although it will be understood that the blade when used as a part of the razor herein described will ordinarily be disposed of when the entire assembly is thrown away.

The guard 16 is in the form of a relatively thin elongated member which is approximately equal in length to the head although slightly wider than the head to underlie the cutting edges of the blade when the parts of the razor are assembled. The guard is straight in longitudinal section, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, and arched or downwardly curved transversely as shown in FIGURE 1. The guard has on its underside a central downwardly extending hollow boss 24 formed as an integral part of the guard. The end of the elongated handle 18 is releasably connected to the boss 24 in a manner more fully described hereinafter.

The guard 16 has a pair of holes 26 on its longitudinal center line spaced apart the same distance as pins 20 to receive the pins, and also has a pair of holes 72 on its longitudinal center line spaced apart the same distance as lugs 70 to receive the lugs.

The razor blade has an elongated slot or cut-out portion 28 formed with generally circular portions 30 likewise spaced apart the same distance as pins 20 and of a size to freely receive the pins.

The head 12, guard 16 and handle 18 may be formed of any suitable material, but preferably are formed of an inexpensive plastic which can be readily molded. A number of the well-known thermoplastic resins are suitable. Suitable materials are polyethylene, polypropylene, and styrene. pensive. The pins 20 and lugs 70, being integral parts of the head 12, are of course molded at the same time as the head and formed of the same material. expensive material for these parts of the razor is preferred because it is intended that the razor will be a throw-away item. twice, or until the edges of the blade become dull, and then the entire razor will be thrown away. Obviously, of course, the handle 18 would not have to be thrown away since it is separable from the head, blade and guard.

The parts of the razor are shown in FIGURE 3 before assembly. Considering FIGURES 2 and 3, the parts 12, 14 and 16 of the razor are moved together during assembly so that the blade 14 is clamped between the head 12 and guard 16 and the pins 20 project through the open ings 30 in the blade and 26 in'the guard. In this condition of the parts the guard 16 underlies the head 12 and the blade is sandwiched between. The blade will flex, as shown in FIGURE 1, to lie in surface-to-surface relation with the opposite faces of the head and guard. The integral pins 20 are cylindrical as shown and initially formed with enlarged ends 40. These enlarged ends 40 are, in their free state, slightly larger in diameter than holes 26 in the guard 16. The material of the pins, however, is slightly resilient and compressible so that the pins may be pushed through the openings or holes 26 by the Styrene is preferred because it is less ex-' An in- In other words, it will be used once or application of pressure. In effect, the enlarged ends 40 have a press fit in the holes 26. When the guard 16 is pressed fully on the pins so that it clamps the blade 14 tightly against the head 12, the enlarged ends 40 of the pins snap through the openings 26 and are disposed on the side of the guard 16 remote from the head (FIG. 2). The enlarged ends are, at full assembly, free to assume their natural free state diameter which is slightly larger than the openings 26. The shoulders 42 at the inner sides of the enlarged ends 40 bear against the side of the guard 16 remote from the head 12 to maintain the assembly. The shoulders 42 flare slightly in an outward direction, that is in a direction away from head 12, for two reasons. First, the guard 16 may be more easily removed from the pins, and secondly, the flare provides a yielding wedging action on the guard assuring a tight clamping engagement of blade 14 between the guard and the head.

. Preferably the outer extremities of the enlarged ends of the pins are beveled at 43 to pilot the pins into holes 26.

The assembly thus formed may be thrown away after it has been used a few times. For this reason the parts of the assembly are made of inexpensive material.

The handle 18 has a reduced inner end 45 which is cylindrical except for the two diametrically opposite lugs 44 and 46 at the inner extremity thereof. The cavity 48 in the boss 24 is cylindrical and adapted to have a slidable, rotatable fit with the inner end 45 of the handle. The cavity 48 has two longitudinally extending diametrically opposite grooves 50 and 52 which slidably receive the lugs 44 and 46 during the assembly of the parts. The cavity 48 opens into a counterbore 53 of enlarged diameter which opens through the upper wall of the guard. The grooves 50 and 52 extend into the counterbore. The counterbore 53 has two substantially half circular ramps 54 and 56 which terminate in diametrically opposed stops or abutments 58 and 60. The ramps are inclined upwardly as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7 from the grooves to the stops. The lugs 46 and 48 can turn in the counterbore.

To assemble the handle, its reduced inner end 45 is inserted straight into the cavity, the longitudinally extending grooves providing clearance for the lugs. The handle is then rotated causing the lugs to ride up the ramps. This draws the handle upward until its shoulder 62 abuts the end of boss 24, as in FIGURE 2. At this point, which is reached is about a A turn of the handle, the handle is frictionally held from reverse rotation by the lugs and ramps. The stops positively prevent too much handle rotation, precluding too tight a wedging and also preventing the lugs from turning a full 180 and reaching the opposite groove.

The pins 20 provide a rough location for the blade and extend through the end blade clearances 30. The lugs 70 provide an accurate location for the blade transversely, that is in a direction from one edge 22 to the other edge 24 so that the edges are properly located With respect to the guard for shaving. The lugs extend through the slot 28 and fit closely therein in the narrow spaces immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of the center circular recess 30.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A disposable razor comprising a head, blade and guard member secured together in assembly, a handle projecting from said guard member at right angles thereto, and a connection between said guard member and handle comprising a socket on said guard member having a generally cylindrical cavity therein, said handle having a generally cylindrical inner end portion adapted to rotatably fit in said socket, a shoulder separating said inner end portion of said handle from the remainder thereof, said handle also having a locking lug projecting laterally outwardly from the generally cylindrical inner end portion thereof, said cavity in said socket having a longitudinally extending groove and at the inner end of said groove a circumferentially extending generally helical ramp, said groove being of sufficient width to clear said locking lug, whereby said inner end of said handle can be inserted in said cavity and during such insertion the longitudinal groove will clear said locking lug, and said handle can be thereupon rotated causing said locking lug to climb said ramp and draw said handle shoulder against the end of said socket to frictionally retain said handle.

2. The disposable razor defined in claim 1, wherein said inner end of said handle has a second laterally projecting locking lug diametrically opposed to the first such locking lug, and said cavity has a second longitudinally extending groove diametrically opposed to the first such groove and a second circumferentially extending generally helical ramp at the inner end thereof, said second mentioned longitudinally extending groove clearing said second locking lug during insertion of the inner end of said handle in said cavity, said second locking lug climbing said second ramp upon subsequent rotation of said handle, and stops at the ends of said ramps adapted to be engaged by said locking lugs to prevent further rotation of said handle.

3. A disposable razor comprising a head in the form of a relatively thin elongated member, a separate guard likewise in the form of a relatively thin elongated member underlying said head member, said head and guard members being formed of a resinous plastic material, a blade interposed and clamped between said head and guard members, and means releasably securing said head member, guard member and blade together, said releasable securing means including a pair of integral cylindrical pins extending from said head member at right angles thereto in spaced relation to one another longitudinally of said head member and on the longitudinal center line of said head member, said pins extending through clearances in said blade and through holes in said guard member, said pins and clearances roughly locating said blade, the outer ends of said pins being enlarged and of larger diameter than said holes so as to have a press fit therein, said enlarged ends projecting beyond said holes and having shoulders engaging the side of said guard member remote from said head member to retain said head member, guard member and blade in assembled relation, said shoulders having an outward flare to wedge against said remote side of said guard member and hold the same firmly in contact with said blade, the enlarged outer ends of said pins having terminal bevels serving as pilots to facilitate the entry thereof into the holes of said guard member, said head member having a pair of integral lugs in spaced relation to one another longitudinally of said head member and located on the longitudinal center line of said head member, said lugs extending through registering openings in said blade and in said guard member, said lugs fitting closely in said openings to accurately position said blade relative to a longitudinal edge of said guard member, a handle projecting from said guard member at right angles thereto, and a connection between said guard member and handle comprising a socket on said guard member having a generally cylindrical cavity therein, said handle having a generally cylindrical inner end portion of reduced diameter adapted to rotatably fit in said socket, a shoulder separating said inner end portion of said handle from the remainder thereof, said handle having a pair of locking lugs projecting laterally outwardly from diametrically opposite sides of the generally cylindrical inner end portion thereof, said cavity in said socket having a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extending grooves and at the inner ends of said grooves a pair of cir-cumferentially extending, generally helical ramps, said grooves being of suflicient width to clear said locking lugs whereby said inner end of said handle can be inserted in said cavity and during such insertion the longitudinal grooves will clear said locking lugs, and said handle can be thereupon rotated causing said locking lugs to climb said ramps and draw said handle shoulder against the end of said socket to frictionally retain said handle, and stops at the ends of said ramps adapted to be engaged by said locking lugs to positively prevent further rotation of said handle.

4. A razor comprising a head in the form of a relatively thin elongated member, a guard separable from said head and likewise in the form of a relatively thin elongated member underlying said head member, said head and guard members being formed of a resinous plastic material, a blade interposed and clamped between said head and guard members, means releasably securing said head member, guard member and blade together, said means including a pair of integral cylindrical pins extending from said head member at right angles thereto in spaced relation to one another on the longitudinal center line of said head member, said pins extending through clearances in said blade and through holes in said guard member, the outer ends of said pins being enlarged and of larger diameter than said holes so as to have a press fit therein, said enlarged ends projecting beyond said hole-s and having shoulders engaging the side of said guard member remote from said head member to releasably retain said head member, guard member and blade in assembled relation, said shoulders having an outward flare to wedge against said remote side of said guard member and hold the same firmly in contact with said blade, said outer ends of said pins having terminal bevels serving as pilots to facilitate the entry thereof into the holes of said guard member during assembly of said razor, said head member having a pair of integral lugs in spaced relation to one another on the longitudinal center line of said head member between said pins, said lugs extending through registering openings in said blade and in said guard member, said lugs fitting closely in said openings to accurately position said blade relative to a longitudinal edge of said guard member, said guard member having a centrally located connection part, and a handle projecting at right angles from said guard member and releasably secured at one end to said connection part.

References Cited by the Examiner WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MYRON C. KRUSE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPOSABLE RAZOR COMPRISING A HEAD, BLADE AND GUARD MEMBER SECURED TOGETHER IN ASSEMBLY, A HANDLE PROJECTING FROM SAID GUARD MEMBER A RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID GUARD MEMBER AND HANDLE COMPRISING A SOCKET ON SAID GUARD MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CAVITY THEREIN, SAID HANDLE HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER END PORTION ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY FIT IN SAID SOCKET, A SHOULDER SEPARATING SAID INNER END PORTION OF SAID HANDLE FROM THE REMAINDER THEREOF, SAID HANDLE ALSO HAVING A LOCKING LUG PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER END PORTION THEREOF, SAID CAVITY IN SAID SOCKET HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE AND AT THE INNER END OF SAID GROOVE A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING GENERALLY HELICAL RAMP, SAID GROOVE BEING OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH TO CLEAR SAID LOCKING LUG, WHEREBY SAID INNER END OF SAID HANDLE CAN BE INSERTED IN SAID CAVITY AND DURING SUCH INSERTION THE LONGITUDINAL GROOVE WILL CLEAR SAID LOCKING LUG, AND SAID HANDLE CAN BE THEREUPON ROTATED CAUSING SAID LOCKING LUG TO CLIMB SAID RAMP AND DRAW SAID HANDLE SHOULDER AGAINST THE END OF SAID SOCKET TO FRICTIONALLY RETAIN SAID HANDLE. 